Originally Posted by
wayne soper
If the contractor has not dotted all his i's, he is liable, within that 1st year, correct?
Even if the contractor has dotted all his i's and t's he is liable.
For how long and for what is up to the contract and state law. State law may specify times, but is almost always very vague on 'what is covered' other than major structural items.
In Florida, the contractor is basically behind it for 15 years, for major things such as structural, however, being as that is not specified (it's vague as I said), then it depends on how good the better attorney and their experts are, and the judge. I've seen an incompetent judge almost sink an open and shut case ... almost ... some reality hit the judge and they avoided the ultimate mistake (but did affect the outcome in a negative way). As I understood it, that judge was a new judge and was not experienced in trials. One would think that, after years of being a lawyer, they would understand trials, but apparently that is not always so.